Beaucatcher Greenway Project

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Beaucatcher Greenway Project

Welcome to the Asheville Greenways website. Thank you for your interest in the City of Asheville's Beaucatcher Greenway project. This site is intended to illustrate this greenway trail’s alignment along with its associated features such as trail heads and furnishings.

The following images and text provide a general overview of the project and subsequently goes into more detail in terms of the greenway’s actual location and design, the entrances into the trail and the character of the features found within the greenway’s features.

Again, thank you for your time and interest in the Beaucatcher Greenway project

Project Contact Infomation

UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETING

When: Wednesday, March 16 5:30-7:30 PM

Where: Lord Auditorium, lower level Pack Memorial Library

Description: The Beaucatcher project is a 1.25-mile-long greenway that runs from McCormick Field parking lot to Helen’s Bridge along the side of Beaucatcher Mountain. In its eighth year of planning, this greenway design is nearly finished and construction is expected to begin soon. This meeting will provide an opportunity to see the final design draft and get first-hand information from the consultants.

Project Information

In 1920, John Nolen, an early city planner, authored the first city plan for Asheville-delineating a circle of parks surrounding Asheville and major city parks in every neighborhood. The key component of the park system was an expansive overlook park along Beaucatcher Mountain, and open space connecting it to downtown Asheville and the surrounding neighborhoods. The plan above, completed in 1922 identifies a linear park along the Beaucatcher ridge line overlooking downtown Asheville. Nolen's plan led to important land conservation by the City, without which today's Beaucatcher Greenway would not be possible.

The corridor nearly extends the length of Beaucatcher Mountain from Memorial Stadium and White Fawn Reservoir (above McCormick Field) to Helen's Bridge near I-240 and Tunnel Road. This wooded corridor below the crest and on the western side of the mountain's ridge will have commanding views of downtown Asheville. The trail will couple on-road in portions along Ardmion Road and South Beaumont Street and at times meander through parks such as Memorial Stadium, White Fawn, Mountainside, Beaucatcher Overlook and Beaucatcher Reservoir Park.

The Beaucatcher Greenway project has been adopted in several planning efforts that received broad public participation and support, including the 2008 Asheville Greenway Master Plan and 2012 Update to that plan. Both documents identify Beaucatcher Greenway as a high priority project. The City began design the following year, 2013

Existing Conditions

Much of the trail alignment is within existing City of Asheville Public Right of Way along an old roadbed.

Trail Vision

The completed trail will be a 10 foot wide asphalt trail that is accessible for trail users of all ages and abilities.

Greenway Alignment

Greenway Alignment

The first section focuses on the off-road connection to Memorial Stadium, an on-road section along White Fawn Dr, and an off-road section beginning at the existing terminus of White Fawn Drive that ultimately connects to Ardmion Park. Because of the steep grades coming up from Memorial Stadium switchbacks are necessary to achieve comfortable and accessible grades for trail users.

The next section focuses on the off-and road segments along Ardmion Park. Due to limited width, the on-road section design includes sidewalk and sharrow (bicycle facility in which bicycles share the road with vehicles). Sharrows are pavement markings that alert drivers that cyclist will likely be present on the road. They do not create a separate bike lane but rather signal that the road is to be shared.

Lastly, the final section continues to focus on the off-road greenway segment along Ardmion Park. The trail follows the right of way along Ardmion Park to its connection with Beaumont Street. The on-road portion trail along the Beaumont Street and College Street is a combination of sidewalk and sharrows leading up to the Helens Bridge access. Sharrows are pavement markings that alert drivers that cyclist will likely be present on the road. They do not create a separate bike lane but rather signal that the road is to be shared.

ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS

There have been many iterations coming up with our current alignment (shown in Green). All the orange lines on this map show possibilities that were explored and ruled out for reasons including cost to build, ADA compliance, environmental impacts, input from neighbors, and constructability. The pink line connecting to White Fawn Reservoir has been designed but will be built as a later project.

Trees

Trees

Trees and forest have been and continue to be an important part of the Asheville landscape and culture. The City of Asheville recognizes and respects that this is what makes Asheville a special place for people to live and visit. The Beaucatcher Greenway project has from the beginning been focused being a trail that complements the forest and allows residents and visitors of all ability to enjoy the mountain. The trail alignment is largely within and existing, cleared roadbed and uses retaining walls to further reduce the amount of clearing and grading needed.

The exhibits below show each of the 408 trees identified along the corridor and whether the tree will be maintained or cut. Trees are being removed for two reasons, 1) to clear area for construction or 2) due to death or disease. The current alignment would require the removal of 135 trees with an average diameter of 13 inches.

MATERIALS

MATERIALS

Materials used along the greenway for walls, signs, seating and other amenities will reference the areas natural environment, cultural history, architectural influences and adjacent land forms. The goal in selecting these materials, shapes and forms is to create a consistent feel along the greenway and trailheads that results in an identity for the Beaucatcher Greenway and connecting parks.